Method for circulating grain stored in a circular bin

ABSTRACT

A sweep auger radially mounted within a storage bin is rotatable horizontally across the bin floor about a vertical axis located centrally of the bin. An upright distributing auger arranged coaxially with the vertical axis has its lower end adjacent the inner end of the sweep auger and its upper end spaced from the roof of the bin. The sweep auger is of a construction such that for each complete revolution across the bin floor it moves predetermined volumes of material over given axial sections thereof for delivery to the distributing auger. The material or grain discharged from the distributing auger is spread across the top surface of the grain stored in the bin. All of the grain in the bin is thus acted upon continuously for circulation through the bin for drying purposes. Field grain may be introduced through the roof of the bin for concurrent distribution and circulation with the grain already in the bin. A bin unloading auger is located below the bin floor to receive grain directly from the sweep auger for discharge exteriorly of the bin.



1. The method for circulating free-flowing grain stored in a circular bin having a ventilated floor which comprises: a. continuously radially moving predetermined relative volumes of grain at a progressively increasing volume flow from given portions of grain extended annularly within the bin for delivery centrally of the bin to successively remove horizontal layers of grain of uniform thickness from the floor of the bin; b. elevating the centrally delivered grain above the surface of the stored grain; and c. distributing the elevated over the top surface of the stored grain so that the stored grain is continuously and uniformly circulated from the bin floor to the top surface of the stored grain.
 2. The method for circulating free-flowing grain stored in a circular bin having a ventilated floor which comprises: a. progressively radially moving predetermined relative volumes of grain at a progressively increasing volume flow from given portions of grain extended annularly on the bin floor for delivery centrally of the bin to remove successive horizontal layers of grain of uniform thickness from the floor of the bin; b. concurrently moving said centrally delivered grain upwardly above the surface of the grain stored in the bin at the same rate that the grain is being progressively removed from the bottom of the bin; and c. distributing said upwardly moved grain over the top surface of said stored grain.
 3. The method for successively removing layers of uniform thickness of free-flowing grain from the ventilated floor of a bin which comprises: a. continuously radially moving predetermined relative volumes of grain at a progressively increasing volume flow from given portions of grain extended annularly on the bin floor for delivery centrally of the bin; and b. continuously removing the centrally moved grain from the bin. 